Hello,



I have joined this forum because I ran into an issue with Word that I have not been able to resolve.

When I open a new document, there is a black bar that goes across the top of the page where the text begins. When I press Enter the black bar follows. When I add a white highlight color to the text the side margins are still black.

When I open an existing document the entire page is black and the text remains the same color (usually black) so it is not visible unless I change it to white.

This issue started a couple days ago. I have no idea how/why and I have not found a way to remove the black background.

Temporary work-arounds are to put the document in Dark Mode or use the online version of Word through Microsoft 365. In Dark Mode the text is white so I can read the document.

How do I remove this black highlight color/bar from Word?

See attachments for an example of what it looks like.

Thank you.

-DRW

Attached Images

	black bar across new document.jpg (65.1 KB, 11 views)
	Blacked-out text in existing document.jpg (59.4 KB, 11 views)

Whilst screenshots can be helpful in illustrating your issue they are of no value in diagnosing the issue. A sample document attached to your question will enable the cause to be idenfified.

Do you see this in the print preview at File > Print as well?

__________________
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

Microsoft 365 apps for business
Windows 11 Professional

Yes Stefan it shows up in Print Preview.

Thanks for the follow-up. Since you are seeing this in the print preview, it isn't just a display issue but actual formatting being added.

I would suggest that this is shading added to the Normal style. It needs to be removed.

Do the following: With the insertion point in an affected paragraph, press Ctrl+Shift+S to display the Apply Styles pane. Click Modify. In the dialog box, click the Format drop down and then click Border. On the Shading tab, click the "No color" option. Confirm with OK. When you are back in the Modify Styles dialog box, choose the "New documents based on this template" option and click OK.

Later, if/when you are prompted to save the Normal template, choose to do so.

__________________
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

Microsoft 365 apps for business
Windows 11 Professional

Thanks for the suggestion Stefan. However the issue remains.

On the Shading tab, "No color" option was already selected. I selected a white color and it removed the black bar for the main text area but it was still black in the margins.

I think this issue may be beyond the scope of Word and something with my Windows OS. When I go to save a document I see the black bar go across the File Directory in the Save As window. This is also happening with other programs besides Word...

Attached Images

black bar in save as .png (47.1 KB, 9 views)

Can you upload a sample document which illustrates the issue so that we can have a closer look?

If necessary, click the Go Advanced button in the forums interface; that way, you will find an option to manage file attachments.

__________________
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

Microsoft 365 apps for business
Windows 11 Professional

Attach a Sample File Demonstrating the Problem - Here's How